Three years ago I listened to a lecture on cognition(认知) that changed the way I think about intelligence. There are two types of cognition. The first is normal cognition: the ability to regain knowledge from memory. The second type of cognition: the ability to know whether or not you know.
Does this affect intelligence? In traditional education, intelligence is measured by cognitive ability. Some people can easily produce everything they know on a test. But others are awarded with poor grades and considered inferior. But does this inability make them any less intelligent? If the question came up on a task, they could refer to a book or a quick Google search. In reality they’re just as effective as the people that ace(擅长) a test. They just can’t prove it as easily.
Metacognition is more important to success than cognition. A person with poor cognitive ability, but great metacognitive ability might do poorly in school, but when faced with a challenge, they understand their abilities and take the best course of action. For example, when faced with a question, a person with strong metacognitive ability will deal with it like this. If he knows the answer, but can’t come up with it, he can always do a bit of research. If he knows for sure that he doesn’t know, then he can start educating himself. Because he’s aware of his ignorance, he doesn’t act with foolish confidence. These people might not seem intelligent at first glance, but because they know what they know, they make better decisions and learn the most important things.
However, people with great cognitive ability but poor metacognitive ability may be considered excellent at a young age for acing every test and getting great SAT scores. Unfortunately, they’ve been ruined by poor metacognition: they think they know everything but they really don’t. They are arrogant (overconfident), fail to learn from mistakes, and don’t understand the slight differences of personal relationships, showing disregard for persons with lower cognitive ability. They may make the worst decisions.
The most important mental power is the ability to know what you don’t know. The recognition of a fault is the first step to improvement. Don’t try to hide a lack of knowledge. For intelligent people this is the toughest lesson to learn.
1.People with great cognitive ability tend to ________.
A. do well in tests B. be considered inferior
C. be more effective than others D. do research when faced with a task
2.The underlined phrase “take the best course of action” probably means ________.
A. starting educating himself B. taking action during the course
C. making the right decision D. coming up with many ideas
3.People with poor metacognition may not succeed because they ________.
A. lack basic moral values B. have improper self evaluation
C. fail to communicate with others D. show little respect for others
4.The author probably supports the idea that ________.
A. intelligence is measured by cognitive ability
B. cognition is the most important mental power
C. the toughest lesson is to distinguish the two types of cognition
D. the awareness of one’s ignorance contributes to one’s improvement
ARLANDA, Sweden(Reuters Life!) —Many people hate the idea of having to sleep on a plane. But Swedish entrepreneur(企业家) Oscar Dios thinks they can be persuaded otherwise and he has created a new kind of hostel to prove it.
Dios says it is the world’s first jumbo(巨大的） jet hostel, an actual jetplane at Sweden’s main airport outside Stockholm which has been changed into 25-room guesthouse that sleeps as many as 72 people.
“I learned about this plane that was standing deserted at Arlanda airport and I’ve been trying the concept of hostels in many different houses and buildings,” he told Reuters. “I thought, ‘Why not a plane?’”
Jumbo Hostels opened for business on Thursday, giving customers the chance to check in and sleep in a room that can best be described as comfortable.
“The most challenging part with this project is trying to build something inside a metal hull(机舱)—it’s just really, really tight.”
The jet, which was originally produced for Singapore Airlines, was taken out of service in 2001. It is held on a concrete foundation with the landing gear secured in steel cradles(托架).
One feature of the hostel is its price—a room starts at 350 Swedish crowns (about $41), which is a lot less than hotel rooms outside of major airports.
Another feature is that customers can get married on the wing of the plane and stay in the plane’s more luxurious honeymoon suite(套房).
Instead of walking down the aisle in the church, lovebirds can take what Jumbo Hostels calls the “wing walk, ” where they can be joined in great happiness at the wing tip. The hostel has someone ready to perform the ceremony.
But in some respects, this hostel remains a plane—most customers have to share the jet’s nine bathrooms and the staff only wear air host and hostess outfits. The only room that has its own bathroom is the honeymoon suite.
1.One of the features of the plane hostel is that ________.
A. customers can sleep in comfortable rooms
B. air hostesses can offer good service
C. the staff can have a “wing walk”
D. a wedding ceremony can be held on the wing
2.We can learn from the text that ________.
A. the hostel lies at Arlanda airport in Stockholm
B. the jet plane was out of use for over six years
C. every hostel room is $41 per night
D. the hostel provides nine bathrooms for customers.
3.The underlined word “tight” means ________.
A. packed B. tense C. small D. close
4.The purpose of the passage is to ________.
A. introduce a new kind of hostel
B. prove people can sleep on a plane
C. describe a wonderful place for weddings
D. call on people to make use of the deserted things
When a dirty and untidy orange cat showed up in the prison yard, I was one of the first to go out there and pet it. I hadn’t touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years. I spent at least 20 minutes, knelt down behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around, relaxed. What he was expressing outwardly, I was feeling inwardly. It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and note that I was reaching a life or another creature with something as simple as my care.
Over the next few days, there were other prisoners responding to the cat. Every yard period, a group of prisoners gathered there. They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat. These were guys you wouldn’t usually find talking to each other. Several times I saw an officer in the group, not chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners. Bowls of milk and water appeared along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the dustbin to keep the birds from getting it.
The cat was obviously homeless and in pretty bad shape. People said that the cat came to the right place. He’s getting treated like a king. This was true, but as I watched, I was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us. There was a lot of talk about what’s wrong with prisons in America. We need more programs. We need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds. Some may even talk about making prisons more kind. But I think what we really need is a chance to practise our own kindness. Not receive it, but give it. After more than two decades here, I know kindness is not a value that’s encouraged. It’s often seen as a weakness. Instead, the culture encourages keeping your head down, minding your own business, and never letting yourself be weak.
The cat did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here. By simply saying, “I need some help here”, he did something important for us. He needed us. And we needed to be needed. I believe we all do.
1.From the passage, we can learn that the author was ______.
A. an animal protector B. the owner of the cat
C. a prison officer D. a prisoner
2.Which of the following statements is true?
A. The cat was dirty because it was kept in prison.
B. The officer in the prison enjoyed petting the cat.
C. The prisoners prepared food for both the cat and bird.
D. The author realised the importance of practising kindness
3.We can infer from the third paragraph that ______.
A. showing love to others can make prisoners strong
B. the American prison culture will be improved
C. the author is not content with the prison culture
D. caring for others is encouraged in American prisons
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A. Caring Makes Us Human B. Prison Culture Is Important
C. Animals Need Care D. Everyone Needs to Be Cared for
The Writers’ Strike: Making the Best of the Worst
By now you are probably feeling the effects of the TV writers’ strike—the decision of television writers to stop working. With few new TV shows, I present to you a list of shows available on DVD worth your viewing time to keep you going during this painful period.
Arrested Development is one of the funniest and most clever shows ever to have appeared on network TV. With a most perfect cast, the show sets out to cover the daily happenings of the Bluth family, a group of selfish staff who manage to still put family first.
For more comedy goodness, I recommend one of the sharpest comedies to have ever aired, 30 Rock. Starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, two stars with impressive comic timing, the show gives you a glimpse into the making of a sketch show(幽默短剧), similar to Saturday Night Live, from the funny writers to the self-centered cast all the way up to the boss.
If you are looking for something more serious, or perhaps more juicy, Friday Night Lights might be more to your liking. If you are a fan of football, this show is probably for you. If you are a fan of great drama, both soapy and serious, this show is probably for you. If you are a fan of good-looking people, this show is definitely for you.
If those show were not enough for you, might I recommend a show with a more heart-pounding excitement? The Amazing Race, after twelve seasons, still remains one of the most exciting shows on TV. Teams of two travel the globe with little to no money and experience far-out adventures in an attempt to remain the last team standing.
1.If you are fond of soapy TVshows, you will probably choose to watch ______.
A. Friday Night Lights B. 30 Rock
C. the Amazing Race D. Saturday Night Live
2.From the DVD shows listed above, we can learn that ______.
A. two teams won the amazing race
B. football fans enjoy the Amazing Race
C. the Bluths care about their family though selfish
D. 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live have nothing in common
3.The author writes the passage to tell us that ______.
A. the effects of the TV writers’ strike are great
B. the strike puts TV shows in the worst situation
C. watching DVD is a good choice during the strike
D. we should choose DVD shows according to our tastes
4.The passage is most probably taken from ______.
A. a book review B. a newspaper
C. a film poster D. a DVD menu
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
I work as a volunteer for an organizaiton that helps the poor in Haiti. Recently I took my son Barrett there for a week, hoping to 1him.
Before setting out, I told Barrett this trip would be tiring and 2. For the first two days, he said almost nothing. I worried the trip was too 3for a 17-year-old. Then, on day three, as we were 4over high rocky mountains, he turned to me and grinned(咧嘴笑), “Pretty hard.”
After that there was no turning back. A five-year-old girl, wearing a dress several sizes 5large and broken shoes, followed Barrett around, fascinated. He couldn’t stop 6. Later he said 7, “I wish I would speak French.” I was 8—this from a boy who hated and 9French classes throughtout school.
Usually silent, he 10Gaby, our host, and kept asking questions about the country and its people. He blossomed(活泼起来).
11, the moment that really took 12breath away occurred in a village deep in the mountains. I was 13a woman villager for an article. 135 centimeters tall, she was small in figure but strong in 14. Through determination, she had learned to read and write, and 15to become part of the leadership of the 16.
Learning her story, Barrett was as 17as I by this tiny woman’s achievements. His eyes were wet and there was a 18of love and respect on his face. He had finally understood the importance of my work.
When leaving for home, Barrett even offered to stay 19as a volunteer. My insides suddenly felt struck. This 20achieved all I’d expected. Soon he will celebrate his 18th birthday. He’ll be a man.
1.A. comfort B. please C. attract D. educate
2.A. rough B. dangerous C. troublesome D. violent
3.A. little B. much C. fast D. slow
4.A. moving B. running C. climbing D. looking
5.A. too B. very C. even D. so
6.A. joking B. crying C. shouting D. smiling
7.A. patiently B. regretfully C. lightly D. cheerfully
8.A. ashamed B. disappointed C. determined D. surprised
9.A. took up B. went in for C. fought against D. called off
10.A. befriended B. disregarded C. avoided D. recognized
11.A. Thus B. Even C. Meanwhile D. However
12.A. my B. his C. our D. her
13.A. asking B. interviewing C. arranging D. describing
14.A. brain B. wish C. will D. health
15.A. appeared B. struggled C. hesitated D. failed
16.A. village B. city C. organization D. state
17.A. shocked B. bored C. puzzled D. touched
18.A. combination B. composition C. connection D. satisfaction
19.A. in B. behind C. out D. away
20.A. interview B. flight C. article D. trip
There was such long queue for coffee at the interval that we _______ gave up.
A. eventually B. unfortunately C. generously D. purposefully
